High excursion expansion joint

Abstract

An expansion joint connects structural elements of a building structure to fill a space between the structural elements themselves. The expansion joint has a plate body and a deformable body flanked or adjacent to the plate body along the longitudinal direction. The deformable body includes two superimposed and structurally independent portions connected to each other in a removable way, or configured for a removable connection with one another.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An expansion joint for connecting structural elements of a building structure,
 wherein said expansion joint is adapted to a connection with one of said structural elements in a longitudinal direction, and 
 wherein said expansion joint comprises
 a plate body, and 
 a deformable body flanked or adjacent to said plate body along said longitudinal direction,
 wherein the deformable body includes a first portion and a second portion superimposed and structurally independent on each other, said superimposed first portion and second portion being connected one with the other in a removable way, and 
 wherein said first portion is an upper portion comprising a plurality of first transversal elements connected with each other by first elastic portions; and 
 wherein said second portion is a lower portion comprising a plurality of second transversal elements connected with each other by second elastic portions, said first transversal elements and said second transversal elements being elements which extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. 
 
 
 
     
     
       2. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the first transversal elements of said first portion are arranged side by side in said longitudinal direction and the second transversal elements of said second portion are arranged side by side in said longitudinal direction. 
     
     
       3. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 said plurality of first transversal elements of the upper portion comprises T-shaped elements and 
 said plurality of second transversal elements of the lower portion comprises coupling elements for a coupling with said T-shaped elements 
 
 or wherein
 said plurality of second transversal elements of the lower portion comprises T-shaped elements and 
 said plurality of first transversal elements of the upper portion comprises coupling elements for a coupling with said T-shaped elements. 
 
 
     
     
       4. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said first elastic portions and second elastic portions are arranged in an internal region (RI) interposed between said upper portion and said lower portion, and 
 wherein said first elastic portions and second elastic portions are arranged so as not to protrude or to be flush-faced on a visible surface of the expansion joint or on a visible surface of the respective first and second portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate-like element is inserted inside an elastic element. 
     
     
       6. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 , further comprising interlocking profiles suitable for connecting said expansion joint to other expansion joints in the transversal direction. 
     
     
       7. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 , wherein said first portion and second portion can be connected together by means of removable interlocking elements and/or fastening means. 
     
     
       8. The expansion joint according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first transversal elements defines with a respective second transversal element with which it is coupled a ring structure or configuration. 
     
     
       9. The expansion joint according to  claim 8 , wherein each of said first portion and second portion comprises mutual contact elements and each ring structure is connected to an adjacent ring structure through the mutual contact elements. 
     
     
       10. The expansion joint according to  claim 8 , wherein said plurality of first transversal elements or said plurality of second transversal elements are metal elements inserted inside elastic elements. 
     
     
       11. The expansion joint according to  claim 8 , wherein the T-shaped elements alternate in the longitudinal direction with first plate-like elements and wherein the coupling elements for a coupling with said T-shaped elements alternate in the longitudinal direction with second plate-like elements. 
     
     
       12. The expansion joint according to  claim 11 , wherein said mutual contact elements comprise one of said first plate-like elements and one of said second plate-like elements. 
     
     
       13. The expansion joint according to  claim 11 , wherein said second plate-like elements comprise supporting elements extending in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal and transverse directions and adapted to provide structural support to the upper portion. 
     
     
       14. The expansion joint according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said T-shaped elements are arranged at a first plane or upper plane, 
 said coupling elements are arranged at a second plane or lower plane, and 
 said first and second plate-like elements are arranged at a plane interposed between said first plane or upper plane, and said second plane, or lower plane. 
 
     
     
       15. The expansion joint Ea according to  claim 11 , wherein the ring structure comprises one of said T-shaped elements, one of said coupling elements and one couple of elastic elements. 
     
     
       16. The expansion joint according to  claim 11 , wherein one among said first plate-like elements and said second plate-like elements comprises a female portion of interlocking elements and the other one among said first plate-like elements and said second plate-like elements comprises a male portion of interlocking elements. 
     
     
       17. The expansion joint according to  claim 12 , wherein said coupling elements comprise a coupling seat for said T-shaped elements. 
     
     
       18. A building structure including an expansion joint according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       19. The building structure according to  claim 18 , wherein said building structure is a road surface, or a portion of road surface. 
     
     
       20. A method for repairing an expansion joint of  claim 1 , said repair method comprising the steps of:
 removing a connection of the upper portion from the lower portion; and 
 connecting a new upper portion to the lower portion. 
 
     
     
       21. The method for repairing an expansion joint according to  claim 20 , wherein said method is performed on an expansion joint.